Police warn author over gay comments

An author and broadcaster condemned as "sinister" yesterday an inquiry conducted by police over comments she made about homosexuals on a live radio programme.

Lynette Burrows, an author on children's rights and a family campaigner, took part in a discussion on the Victoria Derbyshire show on Radio Five Live about the new civil partnerships act.

During the programme, she said she did not believe that homosexuals should be allowed to adopt. She added that placing boys with two homosexuals for adoption was as obvious a risk as placing a girl with two heterosexual men who offered themselves as parents. "It is a risk," she said. "You would not give a small girl to two men."

A member of the public complained to the police and an officer contacted Mrs Burrows the following day to say a "homophobic incident" had been reported against her.

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"I was astounded," she said. "I told her this was a free country and we are allowed to express opinions on matters of public interest. She told me it was not a crime but that she had to record these incidents.

"They were leaning on me, letting me know that the police had an interest in my views. I think it is sinister and completely unacceptable."

Scotland Yard confirmed last night that Fulham police had investigated a complaint over the radio programme.

A spokesman said it was policy for community safety units to investigate homophobic, racist and domestic incidents because these were "priority crimes".

It is standard practice for all parties to be spoken to, even if the incident is not strictly seen as a crime. "It is all about reassuring the community," said the spokesman. "We can confirm that a member of the public brought to our attention an incident which he believed to be homophobic.

"All parties have been spoken to by the police. No allegation of crime has been made. A report has been taken but is now closed."

Mrs Burrows, of Cambridge, the author of Fight For The Family, is the mother of six children and the sister of Victoria Gillick, who unsuccessfully campaigned for parents to have to consent before underage girls could be prescribed the contraceptive pill.

She said she would not allow the investigation to stop her expressing her views.

Radio Five said: "In the context of a live radio programme it sometimes happens that challenging and unpleasant opinions are expressed. Neither Victoria nor the BBC as a whole endorse any of the views of outside contributors to the phone-in debate."